Solder wire feeding means for soldering irons



June 7, 1938. e. MANCINELLI SOLDER WIRE FEEDING MEANS FOR SOLDERINGIRONS Filed Nov. 27, 1935 Patented June 7, 1938 PATENT OFFECE SOLDERWIRE FEEDING MEANS FOR SOLDERING IRONS Gino Mancinelli, Wilmington, Del.Application November 27, 1935, Serial No. 51,743

6 Claims.

It is a general object of can be manufactured at small cost, which canbe attached to the shank of any conventional type of soldering iron andby which, through the manipulation of the thumb of the hand holding thesoldering iron, a solder wire may be projected to the heated end of thesoldering iron to provide the supply of solder necessary for the work tobe done, which solder wire may be completely projected, including itsend, so that there is involved no loss of any portion thereof. The useof the improved device enables the soldering operation to beaccomplished with one hand under conditions where both hands have beenheretofore required, thus simplifying the operation, especially whensoldering is being done in a restricted space.

Other objects of the invention relate to the provision of means forreadily attaching and removing the device from the shank of thesoldering iron and to means for retracting and adjusting the solder wireguiding means in accordance with the desires of the operator.

The above and other objects of the invention, particularly relating todetails of construction, will be apparent from the following descriptionread in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view with certain portions broken away showingthe improved device applied to a soldering iron;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the plane indicated at 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view, partially in section, showing certain detailsof the solder wire holder;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the plane indicated at 4-4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the plane indicated at 5-5 in Figure 1;and

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing a modified form of solderwire feeder.

In the embodiment of the invention shown, there is provided a stationaryannulus I having a laterally disposed flange 2 provided With an openingat 3 communicating with which there is a tangentially attached conduittube 4 adapted to extend in the general direction of the shank 5 of asoldering iron, as indicated in Figure 1. The top of the conduit 4 isprovided with thumb seats or corrugations 6 as indicated in Figures 1and 3. The conduit tube 4 extends to a point adjacent the head "i of thesolder iron and is there split and provided with space lugs 8 arrangedto be drawn together by a connecting screw 9 to clamp an extension tubeIt within the end of the tube (Cl. 113-109)v 4. The extension tube Illis curved as indicated at I I, which curvature, together with the axialadjustment of the extension'lfi, provides means for locating the outletof the extension tube In in a suitable position to deliver the solder tothe tip 1 of the soldering iron. 7

A drum I2 is rotatably mounted on the annulus I and comprises a U-shapedring having concentric outer and inner walls I3 and I4, respectively, toprovide an annulus'opening in a direction parallel to its axis. Theperiphery of the drum I2 is provided with thumb seats or corrugations I5 to facilitate turning of the drum by means of the thumb of the handholding the soldering iron. By such means the drum may be rotated inopposite directions so as to push or pull the feeder I1 and solder wireI6 through its annular opening and through the opening 3, conduit 4 andextension ID to and from the tip 1 of the soldering iron.

The feeder I1 is secured at I8 inside the drum I2 and preferablyconsists of spring wire pro-' vided with a coil I9 at its forward end,as indicated in Figures 1 and 6. This feeder may be projected by themanipulation of the thumb to the outlet of the tube ID, as shown inFigure 1. The feeder may consist either of a wire, as shown, or a longcylindrical spring wire coil of convenient size.

If a large solder wire is being used, the solder Wire may be forced byrotation into the coil IQ of the feeder I7, and since it is of softmaterial will be gripped thereby so that it may be pushed entirely in orout of the conduit tubes in the charging or discharging operations. InFigure 1 the feeder wire I! is shown approaching its extreme outerposition, which involves the location of the spiral I9 outside the tubeI 8. As a result of this capability of movement, the entire solderingwire may be fed to the tip of the iron so that there will be no Waste'ofshort lengths.

If a thinsolder wire such as I6 is used, an insert coil I9"may beprovided adapted to thread into the coil 19 and in turn adapted toreceive the solder wire I6. Preferably, the coil [9 is provided with anenlarged turn 25 at its end to serve as a stop and limit its movementinwardly to the coil I9.

The annulus I is provided with a circumferential inturned flange 2|which is apertured at two opposite points for the reception of theportions Hand 23' of a split ring 22. This ring, located betweentheflange 2| and the drum I2, serves to retain the drum in proper axialrelationship with the annulus I so that the drum may turn thereonwithout becoming displaced. In case occasion arises for the use of thesoldering iron in restricted space it may be desirable to retract theassembly consisting of the elements I l2, 4 and II). In order to permiteither removal or retraction of these elements, there is provided asupporting channel 24 within which the tube 4 is adapted to beseated.The upper edges of the channel 24 are provided with longitudinal theremay'ride pins 7 slots 21' within which slots 28 projecting laterallyfrom tube 4, the pins 28 being adapted to steady and laterally alignwithin the channel the tube 4 and its .associated elements. The'pins 28:also provide end stops for the back and forth movements of thisassembly which may result from manipulation by the r thumb of the handholding the soldering iron by pushing or pulling on the corrugations 6of the conduit 4. V

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 5, the supporting channel 24 is providedwith end ofisets 29 line with these ears so as 'be obvious that thiswill serving as'apertured ears for the reception of the U-shaped springclip 30 which may be through the openings therein. If the U-shaped clipis removed from the ears .29, the assembly may be slid backwardlybringing the pins 28 in to be removable outwardly, thus freeing theconduit 4 and its associatedparts from the channel.

The assembly just mentioned is also adapted to be universally adjustablerelative to the soldering iron to suitably locate the elements thereofwith respect to the axis of the iron. To provide such adjustment thereare provided an outer internally threaded tube BI and an innerexternally threaded tube" 32, the threads of the two tubes beingarranged to engage, as indicated in Figure 4'. The supporting channel 24is providedv with segmental flanges 25 provided'with teeth 26 at theircurved edges, as indicated in Figure 1'. Theouterportionzof the tube 3|is provided with teeth 33 engageable with the members 25 tothe teeththereof to insure a firm grip between the'channel 24 and the -tube3'|'." It will provide twotannular adjustments of the assembly, one bytilting the members 25 with respect to the toothed end of the tube 3|about the axis perpendicular to the axis of the tube 3| and the other byrotating the members 25 about the axis of the tube 3|. The

channel 24 is "secured to the tube 3| by means described below. V

The base portion of the tube 32-is preferably squared so as :to increaseits stiffness and is notched at 34, 34 to embrace the shank of anysoldering :iron.

An eyelet .35 is disposed through a .hole 36 in a conventionalperforated metal strip clamp 31 provided with a number of such holes 36.The member 35 actsyas a universal jointbetween the members 25 and theclamp3l, being provided 7 per' curved portion of as indicated in Figurewith an opening in one end adapted to be aligned with any one of theopenings 38 of the members 25 andsecured in such alignment by means of acotter pin 39. The member 35"is provided'with a hemispherical head 40.which sits within the upthe clamp member 31, 4 It willbe clearifrom thisconstruction thatthere is considerable freedom of movement, when theclampi' member is freed the hemispherical head of the member 35' takingcare of slight angular displacements.

A saddle 14| is arranged to partially embrace the portion of thesoldering iron shank opposite the-member 32 and is provided with'apin42,

inserted r as illustrated in Figure 4, projecting through aconvenienthole 36 of the strip metal clamp 31, which projects from the lower edgesof member 32 through notch 43. By tightening a wing nut on a pivotedbolt 44, extending through one of'the holes 36 of the will be firmlyattached to the shank 5, with the various parts held in adjustedposition.

In order to prevent relative displacement of the.

tubes 3| and 32 there are provided a number of diametrically spacedholes 46 inthe member 3| and opposite diametrically located longitudinalslots 41 in the member 32. Through any pair of,

'the holes 46 and the sl0ts'4'l there may be ar-" ranged a cotter pin48to hold these tubes in relatively fixed position.

It will be understood that various changes may 7 be made in details ofthe invention Without departing from its scope as defined in thefollow-. ing claims.

I'claim:

clamp 31, the entire device 1. Means for feeding solder wire to 'thetiplof.

a-soldering iron comprising a supportsecura-ble to a soldering iron, amemberrotatable 011 13118."

support for carrying a coil of solder wirepmeans for guiding thesoldering wire 'to the soldering iron tip, and means rotatable withlthemember ior pushing the rear end of the solder wire, said last namedmeans comprising a fiexible'wire arranged topush the rear end of thesolder .wire substantially to the soldering iron tip.

2. Means for feeding solder wire to the tip 011 a solderingiron,.comprising a support securable' to a soldering iron, inner andouter wall forming members mounted on the support and providing anannular channel opening in a direction pare.

allel to its axis, said annular channel being arranged to receive thesolder wire, at least the outer wall-forming member being rotatable, andmeans 'for guiding thesolder wire over the outer wall-forming member tothe soldering iron tip.

3. Means for feeding solder wire to the tip of a soldering iron,comprising a support securable to a soldering iron, inner and outerwall-forming members mounted onthesuppo'rt and providing an annularchannelopening in a direction parallel to its axis, saidannular channelbeihgarranged to receive the solderwire, at leastthe outer wall-formingmember being rotatable, means for confining coils of solder wire withinthe annular channel, and means for guiding the' solder wire over theouter wall-forming member to the soldering iron tip.

' 4. Means for feeding solder wire to the tip of a soldering iron,comprising a support securable to a soldering iron, inner and outerwall-forming 7 members mounted on the support and providing an annularchannel opening in a direction parallel to its axis, said annularchannel being arranged to receivethe solder wire, at least the outerwall-forming member being rotatable,

and means for guiding the solderwire over the outer wall-forming memberto the soldering iron tip, and means rotatable with the outer wall-5forming member for pushing thetrailing end of the solderwire; 1 r r 5.Means for feedingvsolder wire tothe tip or a soldering iron, comprisinga support securable to a soldering iron, inner :and :outer wall-formingmembers mounted onthe'support and providing anannular channel opening ina direction parallel to its'raxis, said annular channel. being ar-iranged to receive the solder wire, at least the outer wall-formingmember being rotatable, and means for guiding the solder wire over the.

outer Wall-forming member to the soldering iron tip, and means rotatablewith the outer wallforming member for pushing the trailing end of thesolder wire, said last named means comprising a flexible wire arrangedto push the trailing end of the solder wire substantially to thesoldering iron tip.

6. Means for feeding solder wire to the tip of a soldering ironcomprising a support securable 10 to a soldering iron, a memberrotatable on the support for carrying a coil of solder'wire, means forguiding the solder Wire to the soldering iron tip, and means rotatablewith the member for pushing the rear end of the solder wire, said lastnamed means comprising a flexible wire arranged to push the rear end ofthe solder wire substantially to the soldering iron tip, and to grip thesolder wire to pull it backwardly through the guiding means.

GINO MANCINELLI.

